Tonight at 9:25 p.m. the best television viewing was the Knox County School Board meeting not the Georgetown Hoyas upset loss in the NCAA tournament. Last years and this years proposed budget cuts to Career and Technical Education found a face, a voice and an unbelievable heart. Will the Knox County School Board listen?

Tommy Milligan, the small engine repair teacher at Gibbs High School spoke about his 29.5 years as a teacher and Coach in the Knoxville and Knox County School System. His class page is located here. Before Milligan spoke two of his former students who are now middle age taxpaying citizens spoke about his impact on their lives. After Milligan spoke the classroom assistant that works with Milligan spoke.

Brian Hornback of Brian’s Blog is an advocate of the Career and Technical Education. He attended the National Skills USA competition last June in Kansas City, KS. At the National Skills USA there are competitions from all 50 states in small engine, diesel mechanics, cosmetology, brick masonry, carpentry, all sorts of computer skill competition and thousands of others. Here is the link to Skills USA.

Not all students are able to attend, survive and graduate from an institute of higher learning. So, high school career and technical (vocational) education is that living laboratory of teaching a marketable job skill. Those students are our future. The continued cuts to career and technical education is the Knox County School Board leaving those students (children) behind.